UVA in Italy: Florence at the Palazzo Rucellai: General Studies

The Institute, established in 1999, is located in the heart of Florence at Palazzo Rucellai, one of three buildings designed by 15th century architect and humanist Leon Battista Alberti. The program welcomes students from a variety of colleges and universities.

Location

The Institute is located on the main floor of the Palazzo Rucellai. This historic Renaissance residential palace is located on the Via della Vigna Nuova in the heart of Florence. Students will have access to an on-site library, computers for accessing electronic databases and libraries, and both ethernet and wireless network internet access for personal laptop computers. There is also an iMac equipped computer lab.

Courses

All courses are taught in the American liberal arts tradition and follow a semester calendar with a 15-week fall session, a 15-week spring session and 5-week summer session. All instruction is in English except in clearly designated advanced Italian courses. Prior study of Italian is not required.

The program takes place in the heart of Florence, which serves as a virtual campus. Courses seek to maximize the opportunities offered by this unique urban setting. On-site learning is an integral part of the program. Field trips, museum visits, and attendance at performances frequently complement formal classwork.

All semester students must enroll in a 4-credit Italian language course. The introductory levels provide students with a foundation in the language and equips them with basic communication skills. Advanced levels move students to greater proficiency. (Italian is not a required course during the summer session.)

Students choose from a variety of elective courses for a minimum of 13 credits per semester and 6 credits in summer. Courses range from Art History to Sustainable Food Studies. Students participate in the General Studies program.

Class listings are available on the Palazzo Rucellai website via the link above.

Accommodation and Meals

Students will be placed in centrally-located Institute contracted apartments. Rooms are either doubles or triples, and students will have access to a kitchen and washing machine.

Cost and Financial Aid

The program cost and payment schedule are available under the "Budget Sheets" link at the top of this page. Note that all students are required to purchase the textbooks assigned when they arrive at the Institute. Students with identifiable financial need are encouraged to apply for fellowships, scholarships, and financial aid.

Accessibility

The University of Virginia believes in providing reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities on an individual and flexible basis. If you believe that you would require adjustments in order to fully participate in this program, please contact the Student Disability Access Center at 434-243-5180 as early as possible in order to begin this dialogue.

Passport and Visa

All participants will need a valid passport in order to participate in the program. Students must ensure that their passport is valid at least six months past the program return date. US passport holders will need a visa to participate in this program. The ISO will assist with the visa application process. International students should meet with their International Student Advisor in the International Studies Office as part of the application process.

Health and Safety Information

All students considering Education Abroad should consult the Students Abroad section of the U.S. Department of State’s web-based travel resources and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Traveler’s Health web resources to research health, safety, and security conditions; visa requirements; immunization requirements; and recommendations on staying healthy and safe in their target destination(s). Students should also carefully review the UVA Education Abroad Health & Safety Abroad web page. Parents and guardians are strongly advised to review all of these resources, as well. UVA students and visiting students enrolled in UVA Education Abroad programs are subject to the University of Virginia’s Policy on Student International Travel.